Buildings, Culture and Environment: Informing Local and Global Practices

With accelerating change towards globalisation, the efficacy of
design solutions not embedded within regional culture has been
prone to failure - technically, socially and economically.
Environmental problems and questions surrounding how to achieve a
sustainable built environment are now posing urgent challenges to
built environment practitioners and researcher. However,
international cooperation in setting targets and standards as well
as an increasing exchange of environmental information and
practices present designers, clients and occupants with new
problems that comprise local needs and the built environment.

This book addresses the role regional culture play in the
successful (or otherwise) process of exchanging and adapting
environmental practices and standards in the built environment.
Using the specific case of the design of environmentally sound
buildings, the book identifies a number of issues from different
perspectives:

The conflict between regionally appropriate environmental
building practices within a global technical and economic
context.

How human, social and cultural expectations limit technological
advances and performance improvements.

To what extent information on environmentally progressive
buildings can be transferred across cultures without compromising
regional and local practices.

* focuses on key issues in technology transfer for both practice
and research
* shows how building knowledge is being exchanged across
cultures
* defines the tools needed for exchanging and applying global
information

'It represents a critical step on the long road towards a
sustainable society by opening a dialogue on the disconnections
that prevent international green building research from connecting
meaningfully with local conditions.'

BRI August 2004.

'The contributions to the book act as inspiration and stimulus
by reminding us of the critical importance of of the cultural
embodiment of architecture. and by setting an agenda for future
research, education and practice.'

BRI August 2004.

'This book suggests a positive path foward to form a framework
and critically engage with local culture and social expectations
into solutions for the built environment. It should be read by
everyone interested in the built environment, technology and
information transfer.'

Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 16 issue 1,
2004.

'The readings are dense and informative, and should be useful in
broadening discourse on sustainability to include culture as
indispensable component of project success' Traditional Dwellings
and Settlements Review Spring 2005

Digital version available through Wiley Online Library

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